Definition of Gadfly

1.n. Any dipterous insect of the genus Oestrus, and allied genera of botflies.

Definition of Gadfly

1. Noun. Any dipterous insect of the family Oestridae, commonly known as botflies. ¹

2. Noun. A horsefly: any of various species of fly, of the family Tabanidae, noted for buzzing about animals and sucking their blood. ¹

3. Noun. One who upsets the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempts to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant. ¹

4. Noun. (pejorative) One who merely irritates without making useful suggestions. ¹

5. Noun. (slang) A bloodsucker ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gadfly

1. a biting fly [n -FLIES]

Medical Definition of Gadfly

1. Any dipterous insect of the genus Oestrus, and allied genera of botflies.
The sheep gadfly (Oestrus ovis) deposits its young in the nostrils of sheep, and the larvae develop in the frontal sinuses. The common species which infests cattle (Hypoderma bovis) deposits its eggs upon or in the skin where the larvae or bots live and produce sores called wormels. The gadflies of the horse produce the intestinal parasites called bots. See Botfly, and Bots. The true horseflies are often erroneously called gadflies, and the true gadflies are sometimes incorrectly called breeze flies.
Gadfly petrel, one of several small petrels of the genus Oestrelata.
(30 Mar 1998)

Gadfly Pictures

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Literary usage of Gadfly

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1.The Universal Anthology: A Collection of the Best Literature, Ancient by Richard Garnett, Leon Vallée, Alois Brandl (1899)"THE gadfly. (LA MOUCHE.) (Translated by Walter Learned.) Is the midst of our
laughter and singing, 'Mid the clink of our glasses so gay, What gadfly is over ..."

2.Mathematical Philosophy: A Study of Fate and Freedom; Lectures for Educated by Cassius Jackson Keyser (1922)"... THE gadfly CLARITY OR SILENCE—MUNICIPAL LAWS AND THE LAWS OF THOUGHT.
THE introductory lecture has served, I hope, to indicate in a general way the aim, ..."

3.Wild Earth and Other Poems by Padraic Colum (1916)"THE gadfly YE know not why God hath joined the horse-fly unto the a- horse, Nor
why the generous steed should be yoked with the poisonous fly: Lest the ..."